A cabinet minister was among 32 politicians, generals and others killed today when a plane crashed on its way to Sudan’s war-torn South Kordofan state for the start of Muslim holidays, state media and an aviation official said.
“All people on board were killed” as the aircraft flew in for a ceremony marking Eid, at the end of the Ramadan fasting month, said Abdelhafiz Abdelrahim, spokesman for the Sudan Aviation Authority.
The most senior official among the dead was Khartoum’s Guidance and Endowments Minister Ghazi Al-Saddiq, tasked with religious affairs, the official SUNA news agency said.
It reported that 26 passengers and six crew were on board.
Speaking on official Radio Omdurman, Culture and Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman said the plane “crashed into a hill” because of bad weather, killing the entire delegation.
Abdelrahim told AFP the Antonov plane was landing at Talodi town at about 8:00 am (0500 GMT) when something suddenly went wrong.
“Before landing, communication with the pilot was normal and the runway clear. Then an explosion was heard and the plane was destroyed,” he said.
This is so sad. Everytime I read news like this, I am reminded about the futility of life. Painful and sad for the people they leave behind.
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